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Home My WebLink About10.a. Dakota County Shop UpdateCITY OF ROSEMOUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: MARCH 6, 2001 AGENDA ITEM: DAKOTA COUNTY SHOP UPDATE AGENDA SECTION: NEW BUSINESS PREPARED BY: THOMAS D. BURT, CITY ADMINISTRATOR A _ t ATTACHMENTS: LETTERS APPROVED BY: Mayor Busho asked this item be placed on the agenda. Please review the attached information. Additional information may be presented at the meeting. Discussion is encouraged. 03/01/01 14:09 FA 6 51 602 1674 PLNG GROWTH I 1&02 Metropolitan Council Improve regional competitiveness in a global economy February 22, 2001 Thomas Burt, City Administrator City of Rosemount 2875145 Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 -4997 Re: Dakota County Highway Facility Dear Mr. Burt: I am writing to outline the thinking of the Metropolitan Council staff concerning the proposed Dakota County -highway facility to be located adjacent to your southern border across 160 °i Street. On February 14d the Council approved an Empire Township Plan Amendment that will permit the county project. A copy of the staff report on the project is enclosed. From a land use perspective, our concern was the conversion of farmland to urban purposes. The Council's Regional Blueprint provides that urban uses should not be permitted on agricultural lands unless there is strong evidence that the proposed urban use cannot be located elsewhere. In light of the county's location requirements for a central county facility and its extensive efforts to locate the facility in Rosemount, as described in Attachment 2 to our report, staff has concluded that the project is consistent with the Regional Blueprint. We are concerned about the provision of public services for the project. As noted in our report, new EPA regulations prohibit the discharge of waste from floor drains or the vehicle wash process to ground waters. Without public services, it will be difficult and expensive to take the appropriate - environmental precautions. The site is in the Vermillion River watershed and tributary to the Vermillion River trout stream. For these reasons, we believe it would be very desirable for the facility to be served with public sewer and water service. We strongly recommend that any service extensions be sized to serve this facility only in order to discourage unplanned growth into the agricultural area south of 160 Street. We strongly encourage the city of Rosemount to provide public water and sewer service in a manner consistent with applicable rules. We are also concerned that the project be developed in a way that recognizes the current capacity limitations at the Empire wastewater treatment plant. That may mean that the truck wash water discharges into the sewer system might need to be carefully limited until additional treatment capacity comes on line. If you have any questions about this matter, my staff is ready to assist the city in this important matter. Sincerely, Caren Dewar Community Development Director Attachment cc: John Conzemius, Metropolitan Council District 16 Susan Hoyt, Director, Physical Development Division, Dakota County Lynn Moratzka, Director, Office of Planning, Dakota County Donald Theisen, County Engineer, Dakota County Gerald Stelzel, Chair, Empire Town Board Dean Johnson, Research Strategies Corporation Eli Cooper, MCCD Director, Planning and Growth Management Michael Icing, Sector Representative Judy Sventek, Watershed Coordinator V: \LIBRARY\COMMUNDV\2001\Emp P1 Amed. Dk. Cty. Hway Itr to Rose. 2.22.01.doe www.mettocouncii.ocg Metro Info Une 6 0 2 1888 230 East Fifth Street • St. Paul. Minnesota 55101 -1626 • (651)602 -1000 • Fax 602 -1550 • TIY 291 -0904 An Equal Opp-tuft Brnployer r s C / O :] \ T Y V Office of the County Board Dakota County Administration Center 1590 Highway 55 The Honorable Mayor Kathy Busho Hastings. MN 55033 Councilmember John Edwards Office: 651.43114418 Councilmember Sheila Klassen Fax 651.438.4405 Councilmember Ena Cisewski wwrvcadakota.mn.us Councilmember Mary Riley City of Rosemount 2875 145 Street Willis E. Branning Commissioner - Seventh District Rosemount, MN 55068 13775 Guild Avenue Apple Valley. MN 55124 VMlr-ax: Dear Mayor Busho and Councilmembers: January 29, 2001 612.891.6319 Dakota County and the City of Rosemount have a history of successful partnerships. I am will.branning&o.dakota.mn.us hopeful that we can establish another partnership to effectively serve our citizens. Our request is to have the City of Rosemount provide sewer and water connections to the planned Dakota County Highway Operations Facility (Shop) because it is the most cost effective and environmentally sound way to provide these services to this facility. The Shop will .be.located on 80 acres of agricultural land along County State Aid Highway 46 (160 Street) between Trunk Highway 3 and Biscayne Avenue in Empire Township (map enclosed). This location was selected because its central location within the County makes it very cost efficient for dispatching highway crews; and because the land is available and affordable now - when the County needs to expand its Shop to serve our growing population. However, although the Shop's site is well located from a service delivery perspective, it poses a challenge for providing wastewater disposal and water utilities. Your help is needed to successfully solve this problem. I know that you discussed providing utilities to this Shop site last February with our County Engineer, Don Theisen. I also know that you raised several concerns about the potential impact of the Shop's location with utilities on the surrounding area at that meeting. We respect your concerns. And, in an effort to avoid raising them further, we prepared preliminary plans with the on -site waste disposal and well water systems. However, as we progressed through the approval process, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) changed the rules for these on -site systems. The changes, along with the required water suppression needs for fire protection, dramatically increases the cost of the Shop project. Our estimate for the on -site utilities alone has increased by over $350,000 beyond the original estimate of $250,000. In addition, officials from both the EPA and the Metropolitan Council Environmental Services expressed concern over the environmental safeguards necessary to accompany the on -site waste disposal ystem. Clearly public sewer and water provide stronger environmental protection.guarantees than the on -site alternative. We are asking you to consider. our request for utilities now because we are nearly at the end of the approval process for this Shop facility: The `Metropolitan Council is expected to approve an Empire Township Comprehensive Plan amendment changing the designation of the northern 40 acres of the site from agricultural use to public institutional use. The . southern 40 acres will remain in an agricultural designation. The combined public and agricultural makes sense for this site because it provides a transitional use between the City of Rosemount January 29, 2001 Page 2 urban and rural landscapes. Once the Metropolitan Council approves the plan amendment in early February, the County will prepare the final plans and construction documents for the Shop. To move ahead with our timetable, it is critical that we resolve how to provide water and sewer to the site as soon as possible. I thank you for considering this new partnership and the value that it will ultimately give to our citizens. I would be glad to meet with you to discuss our request at any time. Sincerely, 1t ichael E. Turn Chair Willis E. Bra n ng County Commissioner Commissioner, District 7 cc: Dakota County . Boarctvfft rtmissioners Brandt Richardson,. County Administrator Susan Hoyt, Physical Development Director Don Theisen, County Engineer 1 urban and rural landscapes. Once the Metropolitan Council approves the plan amendment in early February, the County will prepare the final plans and construction documents for the Shop. To move ahead with our timetable, it is critical that we resolve how to provide water and sewer to the site as soon as possible. I thank you for considering this new partnership and the value that it will ultimately give to our citizens. I would be glad to meet with you to discuss our request at any time. Sincerely, 1t ichael E. Turn Chair Willis E. Bra n ng County Commissioner Commissioner, District 7 cc: Dakota County . Boarctvfft rtmissioners Brandt Richardson,. County Administrator Susan Hoyt, Physical Development Director Don Theisen, County Engineer I �i - U � " r; IF 3385 197th ST. WEST FARMINGTON, MN 55024 (651) 463 -4494 January 24, 2001 Mr. Tom Burt, Administrator City of Rosemount 2875 -14P Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 RE: Dakota County Maintenance Facility - Utility Options Dear Tom: The Empire Town Board is aware of renewed interests by Dakota County to pursue sewer and water services from the City of Rosemount. We are also aware that the City may be discussing this issue at a pending work session. The Town Board has briefly discussed this issue and offers the following comments for consideration by you and the City Council. It is our understanding that the City Council pre declined to consider utility service to the proposed facility, at least in part, because of concerns about urban sprawl into the Township and general "smart growth" concerns. I can assure you that the Town Board shares similar concerns and does not want to initiate urban development in the 160th Street corridor. At the same time, the Board understands that the cities do not want tax exempt facilities in their industrial parks, which creates problems for the County in properly locating such facilities. We also acknowledge that rural communities require facilities like the County's highway shop. Empire agreed to work with the County on this project because the Township's central location could make the highway shop convenient to cities and towns, alike. The Town Board also felt it had a responsibility to assist the County in a facility that benefited the Township and other rural areas. In debating the land use along 160' Street, the Board also felt that public facilities in the agriculture area do not necessarily set a precedent for other development. A case in point is the University of Minnesota. Its presence in the community has not caused for development. The same may be true for the MCES treatment plant and the former MnDOT weigh station in Empire. The Town Board is willing to cooperate with the County and City to pursue an appropriate solution for utility service at the proposed highway shop site. The Township would propose a joint powers agreement that would clearly protect all parties' interests. Specifically, the Township would suggest that any utility provisions be strictly limited to individual service connections to guarantee that the decision to serve the County facility did not result in speculation or pressure to consider any non - public development. The Township would continue " City of Rosemount January 24, 2001 Page Two to designate all the rest of the land in the area as agriculture in the Empire Township Comprehensive Plan. Empire has been asked by the Metropolitan Council to participate in a smart growth study to "perpetuate the hard urban -rural edge ". In preliminary discussions on this topic, the Planning Commission and Town Board have discussed long term agricultural preservation techniques. Some alternatives include the establishment of "buffers" along urban -rural boundaries. These may consist of "green corridors ", protected with some form of conservation easement or development rights transfer. Dakota County is reviewing similar techniques in their "farmlands and natural areas" project. The County highway shop may fulfill a comparable objective, if its presence serves as a buffer or transition between rural and urban areas; yet, it does not serve as an inducement to private development. Perhaps other public uses may be appropriate in this area to create a meaningful buffer between urban and rural uses, one that reduces further speculation on urban development along the City/Township border. The Town Board is interested in working on common objectives with the City and County. Please be assured that we are willing to work out an agreement that addresses all concerns. We have also discussed the proximity of this facility to the Rosemount Fire Hall. It is clear that the parties should also discuss the appropriateness of an emergency services contract for this area. In conclusion, the Town Board wishes to make certain that the City Council understands that the Township shares similar concerns, regarding urban services to the proposed County highway shop. The Town Board is willing to pursue alternatives and discussions with the City, however, that would address these concerns and provide an appropriate remedy to the County's needs. Please do not hesitate to contact me, if you have any questions. Sincerely, , I qt S G. E. Stelzel, Chair Empire Town Board CENTEX HOMES Minnesota Division 12400 Whitewater Dive Suite 120 Minnetonka, MN 55343 Phone: 952-936-7833 Fax: 952-936-7839 March 5, 2001 Mayor and City Council City of Rosemount 2875145th Street West Rosemount, MN 55068 -4997 Dear Mayor and City Council, On February 26th, the Park and Recreation Committee reviewed Centex's concept plan for Bloomfield. As Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation Director points out in his memo, the Committee is interested with the additional opportunities the new concept plan offers. To summarize for the City Council, Centex's proposal to the Committee was: ♦ Acceptance of 5 acres of new park land adjacent to existing 8.7 acres Value = 5 X $30,000 = $150,000 ♦ Grading of park by Centex Value = 5 X $10,000 = $50,000 Park Seeding by Centex Value = 5 X $2,000 = $10,000 ♦ Construct Trails by Centex Value = $75,000 ♦ Accept land under trails Value = 2.5 X $30,000 = $75,000 ♦ Construct playground equipment Value = $30,000 ♦ Install Landscaping Value = $20,000 ♦ Accept Cash Dedication Value = $ 93,000 The total "value" of park related improvements listed above are $505,000. The required park dedication is $423,000. Sincerely, /teveh Land Development Manager Centex Homes